1-What is the author’s purpose for writing this article?

Question

2-What is the main idea of the article?
Diwali is a traditional Hindu celebration. Every fall around October and November as the long days of bright summer fade, Hindus around the world celebrate Diwali, or the Festival of Lights. This five-day holiday marks the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness. This is symbolized by the glow of burning oil lamps called diyas. Celebrating Diwali as we head into darker, colder days has been a tradition for more than 2,500 years. “New beginnings, new endeavors, and an opportunity to renew ties with family and friends” is what Diwali brings to Hindus, says Neeta Bhasin, a Diwali event organizer in New York. For example, popular US tourist spots like Disneyland and New York’s Time Square are illuminated in vibrant Indian colors during the Diwali holiday. In fact, even the White House joins in the festivities. This makes sense because 3.1 million Indian-Americans live in the United States. Many Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists also observe Diwali in accordance with their own traditions. History Like many Hindu festivals, there isn’t just one reason to celebrate Diwali. Pankaj Jain is a professor of anthropology, philosophy, and religion at the University of North Texas. He says the ancient celebration is linked to multiple stories in religious texts, and it’s impossible to say which story came first. The Diwali festival is likely a blend of the bustling harvest festivals in ancient India. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts like the Padma Purana and the Skanda Purana. These ancient texts were written between the fourth and eighth centuries CE. Many of the stories about Diwali are about the triumph of good over evil. For instance, in northern India, a common story connected with Diwali is about King Rama, one of the incarnations of the god Vishnu. When an evil king in Lanka captures Rama’s wife Sita, he gathers an army of clamoring and chattering monkeys to rescue her. The monkeys build a sturdy bridge from India to Sri Lanka to invade Sri Lanka. They free Sita and kill the evil king. As Rama and Sita return to India, millions of lights are spread out across the city of Ayodhya to welcome them back. Lighting these flickering lamps has long been one of the ways Hindus celebrate Diwali. In the south, Diwali is linked to a story about the Hindu god Krishna, a different incarnation of Vishnu. In this tale, he frees some 16,000 women from another evil king. In the western state of Gujarat, the New Year coincides with Diwali. (There are multiple New Years throughout India.) There, Diwali is associated with asking the goddess Lakshmi for prosperity for the year. Rituals and Preparation Although rituals vary among the diverse Hindu population, many Diwali observers especially revere Lakshmi. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. First, rituals and preparations for Diwali begin days or weeks in advance. Typically this starts after the festival of Dussehra. Dussehra happens about 20 days before Diwali. In the days leading up to Diwali, people prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas and rangoli. The festival formally begins two days before the night of Diwali and ends two days after. Each day has its own rituals and significance. Celebration During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes; these luxurious clothes are often made of soft velvet, shiny silk, or textured brocade. They light up the inside and outside of their homes with the glow of diyas and rangoli and offer puja, or worship, to Lakshmi. Then, people gather for aromatic family feasts, where delicious mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. Infectious laughter can be heard from all around. Diwali is a time to gather with family and celebrate. Source: espies/Shutterstock Hindu temples in the US are an important gathering place during Diwali. Most celebrants make it a point to pay respect to the goddess Lakshmi. In many places with large Indian populations, shops and boutiques sell Diwali knick-knacks. Melas, or fairs, are also common. Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity who is widely revered as the god of beginnings and good fortune, receives a lot of attention during Diwali.

Answer 1

1. Author's Purpose: The author's purpose for writing this article is to inform readers about the significance, history, rituals, and celebrations associated with Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. The article aims to educate a wider audience, including those unfamiliar with the festival, about its cultural importance, traditions, and the diverse ways it is celebrated in different regions.

2. Main Idea: The main idea of the article is to provide an overview of Diwali, highlighting it as a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. The article discusses the historical context of the festival, its various stories, the significance of rituals, and the communal and familial aspects of the celebrations, as well as its recognition in places like the United States where it is celebrated by Hindu and other communities.